Bible Strands
Leviticus 4:20
He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses instructs the priests on the final procedural step for the assembly's bull sin offering, immediately after the fat has been removed and burned on the altar.
The words — כֵּן (ken) = "so/thus" and יַעֲשֶׂה (ya'aseh) = "he will do" tie the priest's subsequent action directly to the prescribed pattern, emphasizing exact compliance with the ritual sequence.
The thread — The formula of priestly atonement resulting in forgiveness recurs in Numbers 15:25, while the structural reliance on prescribed sacrifice continues in Leviticus 12:8 and is referenced in Hebrews 10:10.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to observe that forgiveness is explicitly tied to the priest's execution of the commanded ritual, not to the offerer's independent action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
Cross-references
- Numbers 15:25 The priest is to make atonement for the whole congregation of Israel, so that they may be forgiven; for the sin was unintentional and they have brought to the LORD a food offering and a sin offering, presented before the LORD for their unintentional sin.
- Leviticus 12:8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”
- Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
- Exodus 32:30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
- Leviticus 1:4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
- Leviticus 4:26 He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven.
- Leviticus 5:6 and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.
- Leviticus 6:7 In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.”
- Leviticus 14:18 The rest of the oil in his palm, the priest is to put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD.
- Numbers 15:28 And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.